WHAT IS HAPPENING AT WHITE ISLAND VOLCANO??? New Zealand/Kermadec & South Pacific QUAKE/VOLCANO WATCH

Re: WHAT IS HAPPENING AT WHITE ISLAND VOLCANO??? New Zealand/Kermadec & South Pacific QUAKE/VOLCANO WATCH

Yes, I have been following those threads! All animals doing good here. My draft horse is still predicting bad winter weather, so I have been trying to deal with that and make sure we have enough food and supplies. Especially if the SHTF scenario hits. We had a really late summer here. It was off by a month, didn't have much of a fall or spring. Really strange and everyone around here have been talking about it...Hope all has been good for you!

New Zealand scientists investigating an active Kermadec undersea volcano Havre discovered significant changes to the seafloor during last eruption on July 19, 2012. The eruption was captured by a Nasa satellite, and a Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion patrol spotted the huge pumice area on their way back home from Samoa (read our earlier report)

Scientists, aboard Niwa research ship – Tangaroa (deepwater research vessel), used multibeam sonar to map the seamount and found evidence of a new volcanic cone, 240 m tall and reaching withing 1,100 m below sea level, built on the side of the large submarine caldera of Havre. Aside from new volcanic cone they also found one side of the caldera wall is bulging in towards the volcano’s centre, indicating where an eruption may occur in the future or it may lead to an undersea avalanche.

Niwa’s volcanologist Dr Richard Wysoczanski, who is leading the 23-day expedition, said there had been volcanic activity every year for the past decade, but this was the largest by far.

“It is a substantial eruption. Had it occurred on land in New Zealand, it would have been a bit of a disaster.”

The volcanic caldera, which is like Lake Taupo, known to produce large and violent eruptions, spewed up to 10,000 more material than the Mt Tongariro eruption on August 6, he said.

More detailed investigation of earthquake-related documents has now led me to write something further about earthquakes in New Zealand. (For earlier posts about the Christchurch earthquakes see [link to keithwoodford.wordpress.com] in the earthquake category.) I have found four GNS maps (www.gns.cri.nz) which, when brought together, seem fundamental to understanding the ‘big picture’. I have therefore reproduced and interpreted them in this post, using information gleaned from a range of sources.

The first map (above) shows the three major fault systems in New Zealand: the North Island System, the Marlborough System and the Alpine Fault. What is also highlighted in this picture is that the North Island System actually separates the main Indo-Australian Plate (in this diagram more simply called the Australian Plate) from a ‘rootless fragment’ of this same plate. This Indo-Australian fragment has detached and is now taking a ride on top of the Pacific Plate. The real surface boundary of the Indo-Australian Plate is the Hikurangi Trough (also called a trench) to the east, where the Pacific Plate is being pushed under. The main NZ tsunami risk comes from an undersea earthquake in this trough. The figures printed within this map of 38, 39, and 41 are the average annual movement in millimetres along these parts of the trough. Elsewhere, I have seen GNS data (reported in earlier posts) indicating that the Alpine Fault moves at a similar rate to this, but that the two segments of the Indo-Australian trench are moving relative to each other at only 5-10 mm per annum. This recognition that movement between the two Indo-Australian fragments might be less than previously thought has led to suggestions that the risk to Wellington might also be less than previously thought. Basically, the smaller annual movement leads to longer return intervals between big earthquakes. (However, the earthquakes that Wellington feels are not only those between the two parts of the Indo Australian Plate, as the Pacific Plate does reach under Wellington at a depth of 30-40km. More on Wellington later.)

[link to keithwoodford.files.wordpress.com] map, large nz quakesThe picture above shows where the major shallow earthquakes have been in the last 160+ plus years. It is shallow earthquakes that do the most damage. There are two big swathes of the country where no big damaging earthquakes have occurred. One of these is all of the North Island to the east of the North Island faults. This is not unexpected, as it is generally an area of only moderate risk for shallow earthquakes (but not for volcanoes). The second is the area adjacent to (i.e. both west and east) of the Alpine Fault. This is not so reassuring, as it indicates that pressure is building up. (The Magnitude 7.1 Arthur’s Pass earthquake of 1929 was on the Poulter Fault which is one of several faults, this one relatively minor but others considerably larger, branching off the northern extremity of the Alpine Fault.) The earthquakes in Fiordland are associated with the Puysegur Trench where the Indo-Australian plate is subducting (diving beneath) the Pacific Plate.

The third map (above) shows all of the shallow earthquakes of more than Magnitude 3 over a ten year period. Most likely, this is up to the end of 2009, or perhaps even earlier, as the Magnitude 7.1 Darfield (Canterbury) earthquake of 4 September 2010 is not shown. Essentially, this map confirms how we really are the Shakey Isles but with the shallow earthquakes largely along the faults, and overlapping on this map as a splodge of red.

This last map (above) provides key information of several things. First, it shows how in the North Island the Pacific Plate is descending beneath the main part of the Indo-Australian Plate. The increasing depth going from east to west across the North Island gives a strong indication of the slope at which the Pacific Plate is descending. The second point is how there have been no earthquakes at depth along the Alpine Fault. Once again, this is indicative of pressure building up. The two plates are in a stalemate, but the pressure is continually building, and with nowhere else to go the fault must eventually unzip. The eastern side including the peaks of the Main Divide will move south. The western side will move North.

So what does all of this mean? My own interpretations are multiple. The first is that the GNS data reinforces the notion that the Alpine Fault, which last unzipped in a major way in about 1717, is a major menace. The greatest risk, because of proximity to the Fault, is on the West Coast. (See earlier posts.)

My second interpretation is that the Hikurangi Trough provides our greatest risk for a tsunami. I would like to learn more about that. I know that the Gisborne earthquake of 6.8 in December 2007 was at 40km depth within this trough. However, although this earthquake did considerable damage to Gisborne, it was too deep and of insufficient magnitude to create a tsunami. Apparently, the risk of tsunami from the Hikurangi Trough is enhanced by the possibility of major sediment deposits, deposited by the sea currents, being shaken off the sides as a landslide. It seems that the risk of sediment landslides is strongest at the southern end of the Hikurangi Trough. This is of particular concern for those living along the Kaikoura Coast in the South Island. However, for anyone who lives in low-lying areas along the east coast of both islands, from East Cape in the north to Christchurch in the south, this Hikurangi Trough seems far too close for comfort.

I indicated earlier that I would say more about Wellington. Despite some indications that they have already had their big one (officially known as the 1855 Wairarapa earthquake of magnitude 8.2, the biggest recorded in New Zealand since European settlement), and that the return intervals are longer than previously thought, there is still great scope for massive earthquakes. There are also some low-lying parts of Wellington that are susceptible both to liquefaction and tsunami. Similarly, cities like Blenheim, Nelson, Hastings, Napier, Gisborne and Tauranga, together with many smaller towns, would all seem to have significant risk from tsunami. All we can do is plan and prepare, and then get on with living.

Re: WHAT IS HAPPENING AT WHITE ISLAND VOLCANO??? New Zealand/Kermadec & South Pacific QUAKE/VOLCANO WATCH

Are we being censored on YouTube??

Published on Sep 30, 2012 by biggordy100I seem to be being censored with my subscriptions on my YouTube channel??? What's going on maybe a false flag event?? I have always said " when the rats leave the ship, look overboard cause your about to sink" look out people!

Re: WHAT IS HAPPENING AT WHITE ISLAND VOLCANO??? New Zealand/Kermadec & South Pacific QUAKE/VOLCANO WATCH

Split Of Moon Got By Others! Watch PLEASE

Published on Oct 23, 2012 by J7409I recorded my film on Sunday Night between 9 and 10 pm EDT with my webcam. Vaughn 5001 recorded his on Saturday Night around 9:30 pm. He gave me premission to use his video. I do not know Vaughn 5001, but he put a link to my video to prove his point and i am useing his video to prove mine. I took my web Cam to be checked it is fine. You make your own mind up. Peace and Love J7409. And thank you Vaughn 5001 for letting me use your video.

Re: WHAT IS HAPPENING AT WHITE ISLAND VOLCANO??? New Zealand/Kermadec & South Pacific QUAKE/VOLCANO WATCH

Split Of Moon Got By Others! Watch PLEASE

Published on Oct 23, 2012 by J7409I recorded my film on Sunday Night between 9 and 10 pm EDT with my webcam. Vaughn 5001 recorded his on Saturday Night around 9:30 pm. He gave me premission to use his video. I do not know Vaughn 5001, but he put a link to my video to prove his point and i am useing his video to prove mine. I took my web Cam to be checked it is fine. You make your own mind up. Peace and Love J7409. And thank you Vaughn 5001 for letting me use your video.

Quoting: Tauranga

Moon Splits Before My Eyes?

Published on Oct 22, 2012 by J7409This looks like the Moon splits for a couple of seconds. Now i know this couldn't have happened. It only lasted a few seconds, BUT what did happen???? I OWN all video used to make this video. I took it with my With My Own Webcam.For YOUTUBE!! Please do not use without asking first. Thank You...J

Re: WHAT IS HAPPENING AT WHITE ISLAND VOLCANO??? New Zealand/Kermadec & South Pacific QUAKE/VOLCANO WATCH

First one i've felt in about 2 months, but often we feel quakes from matata, gisborne, te keha etc.. Anything that happens on our cost line is often felt here.Most of my work mates felt it around Whakatane too.Last quake that was felt here was the earthquake that happened in Taranaki a couple months back.

This morning though was getting edgy contemplating grabbing our gears and supplies because the earthquake keeped rolling for about 5 seconds , so was quite a hefty one.

Re: WHAT IS HAPPENING AT WHITE ISLAND VOLCANO??? New Zealand/Kermadec & South Pacific QUAKE/VOLCANO WATCH

First one i've felt in about 2 months, but often we feel quakes from matata, gisborne, te keha etc.. Anything that happens on our cost line is often felt here.Most of my work mates felt it around Whakatane too.Last quake that was felt here was the earthquake that happened in Taranaki a couple months back.

This morning though was getting edgy contemplating grabbing our gears and supplies because the earthquake keeped rolling for about 5 seconds , so was quite a hefty one.

Re: WHAT IS HAPPENING AT WHITE ISLAND VOLCANO??? New Zealand/Kermadec & South Pacific QUAKE/VOLCANO WATCH

Yep very much soo, Whakatane being very flat we are almost right at sea level and about 2.6km from the sea.

Quoting: Whakatane

I remember the feeling well of wondering whether to stay or go...we lived about 150m from the beach at Papamoa. Have since moved but had a couple of scares while we lived there.

There are 331 felt reports for the Quake you felt so pretty strong to wake up so many.

Interested observer of all things interesting!

Please note : Where appropriate for posted images/ graphs I acknowledge the New Zealand GeoNet project and its sponsors EQC, GNS Science and LINZ, for providing data/images used in my study and analyses of Volcanic and Earthquake information in New Zealand.